Sewage disposel machine.



Nov. 29, 1949 E. HENNO 2,489,454

SEWER DISPOSAL MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l ooqoooooo o w/ qfl wum GZJ 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Nov, 29, 1949 E. HENNO SEWER DISPOSAL MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1947 l l l i mm m m m mn nmwl wn in on m TQ m ml Nov. 29, 1949 E. HENNO SEWER DISPOSAL MACHINE 3 SheetS- -Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 13, 1947 5 IN VEN TOR. Y 0 462-1 ment of the present invention includes major portion of. which, if desired, may be Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEWAGE DISPOSAL MACHINE Edward Henno, Fayetteville, Ark. Application August 13, 1947, Serial No. 768,437

3 Claims.

This invention relates to sewage disposal machines of the type wherein the sewage is mechanically treated in successive stages so as to remove the solid content from the fluid medium before such medium is released in a relatively pure condition.

An important object of the invention is to provide for the effective floating of solid matter incident to the carrying out of the final stage of treatment so as to enable such matter to be readily separated from the fiuid medium before final disposition is made of that medium.

To the above and other ends the invention contemplates among other things, an improved agitating unit for use in the final stage of treatment of the fluid medium, said unit being characterized by the fact that it includes a reciprocatory carriage, adapted to be moved horizontally and comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed slot-like bafiles, spaced one above the other and arranged in groups, which are, themselves, spaced from each other and extend transversely of the reciprocatory path along which the carriage is adapted to be moved.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a central, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, certain parts of the machine being omitted, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

The machine herein illustrated as an embodia series of tank-like pits, namely, a reception pit ID, a collection pit l I and an agitating or flotation pit l2. These pits ID, I I and I2 are of concrete construction, the concrete being poured into molds according to standard practice so that the pits collectively constitute a single unitary structure, the

disposed below the ground surface, as shown in Fig. 2.

Leading into the pit I is a sewage inlet conduit M, by way of which sewage is introduced into that pit for treatment, which at this stage is effected by an endless screen-like conveyor, indicated generally by the numeral l5 and the function of which will hereinafter more clearly appear.

The conveyor l5 includes a smooth faced drumlike pulley l6, disposed below the normal liquid level line, as shown in Fig. 1, and journaled on a horizontally disposed shaft I! supported at its ends by the side walls of the pit ID, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. At the upper end of the pit it and in close proximity to the pit ll, there is arranged a second drum-like pulley I8, carried by a drive shaft 2E3, journaled in suitable bearings 2i and provided at one of its ends with a sheave 22, by which the shaft 20 and its associated pulley !8 may be rotated in a clockwise direction, reference being had to Fig. 2.' Carried by the pulleys I5 and I8, is an endless screen 24, onto the upper reach of which the sewage is discharged from the conduit I4 as it enters the pit It].

In order that a positive driving contact may be afforded between the pulley I8 and its associated screen 24, the face of said pulley is knurled, as shown in Fig. 2, or otherwise serrated in such fashion as to present a pulley surface pattern which is complimentary to the pattern of the mesh peculiar to the screen. Aside from the fact that the knurled or serrated face of the pulley l8 affords a positive driving contact with the screen 24, it will be understood that the lobe-like protrusions 25 which characterize the surface of said pulley and project through said screen, as it passes over the pulley, serve in conjunction with the woven wire structure of the screen to present a relatively smooth surface at the discharge end of the conveyor [5 so as to permit such solid matter as is carried upwardly from the pit ID by the conveyor to be effectively removed from the screen by a suitable scraper 26, connected to the upper end of a transversely disposed supporting plate 21, secured at its opposite ends to a pair of gussets 28 conveniently mounted at the upper end of the pit H.

In order that the screen 24 may be firmly held in contact with the pulley [8, there are provided a plurality of pressure rollers 38, mounted for rotation on a shaft 3!, supported at its outer ends in a pair of standards 32, anchored to and extending upwardly from the side walls of the pit l I. If desired, a second scraper 34 may be employed to supplement the scraper 26, the supplemental scraper being suitably connected, as shown in Fig. 3, to the upper margin of that end wall which is common to the adjacent pits l I and I2 and being adapted to engage the lower reach of the screen 24 so as to insure the removal therefrom of any solid matter that may escape removal under the action of the scraper 26.

Referring again to the lobe-like protrusions 25 with which the pulley I8 is provided, it may be well to mention that such protrusions effectively serve to dislodge any solid matter from the mesh of the Screen 24 as it passes over said pulley, the solid matter thus dislodged being presented to the action of the scraper 26 and removed thereby along with such solid matter as is carried on the surface of said screen at the time it emerges from the liquid content of the pit II]. It will, of course, be understood that all solid matter, as it is removed from the screen 24 by the scrapers 28 and 3a, is permitted to fall into the pit I l where it is collected for periodical removal as occasions may require.

Leading from the pit l0 to the pit i 2, is a by-pass conduit 35, through which the liquid content of the pit [0, together with all solid matter suspended in that content, passes directly into the pit l2 for mechanical treatment by an agitating unit BB adapted to so function as to cause said suspended matter to float to the surface of its fluid carrier medium preparatory to being collectedand preparatory to the final disposition of said medium by way of a discharge conduit 33 leading from the pit [2.

The agitating unit 36, which is located within the pit l2, performs -a highly important function in the machine herein illustrated as an embodiment of the present invention and comprises a plurality of roller supports 31, which are suitably anchored to the bottom of the pit i2 and ach of which supports a pair of rollers 38, disposed one above the other in a spaced relation, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. Each pair of rollers 38 constitutes a roller-set, there being two groups of such sets herein illustrated. Between the upper and lower rollers 38 of each group of roller sets there are arranged for reciprocation a pair of bafile supporting ties 40, to each of which are suitably connected a plurality of ver- I tically disposed standards 41, the upper ends of each group of which standards are connected together by a reinforcing bar 212. To each pair of standards :41, there are connected a series of baflie slots 44, disposed in a spaced relation to each other, the sevemr groups of slots being spaced from each other, and'extending through the major portion of the width of the pit i2.

Preferably, the baffle slots 44, of each group thereof, are connected together at their outer ends byvertically disposed reinforcing ties 45, the lower endsof which may be connected together by horizontally disposed reinforcing strips 16, asshown 1.

The agitating unit 36, above described in deitail, isadapted to 'bemoved back and forth lengthwise of the pit l 2 while being supported and guided by the rollers 38, the actuating means for imparting reciprocatory movement to the,

baffle unit in its entirety being herein illustrated L as a pitman type of power transmission 4?.

The transmission .41 includes a shaft 45%, supported by a suitable bearing .50, anchored to one of the side walls of the pit l2, and provided at its opposite ends with a pulley 5| and a pitman 'disk 52, to which disk there is eccentrically connected a pitman rod 54, pivotally connected to one of the bafile slots 44 by suitable means, such as a bracket 55.

From the foregoing description of the transmission in relation ,to, the agitating unit at, it will be understood that as the shaft 48 is 1'0- tated, as by an electric motor, not shown, and

to which the .pulleyjl may be connected by a power belt 55, the agitating unit will be reciprocated lengthwise of the pit l2, thus imparting to the liquid content of that pit a. turbulence of such character as to cause any suspended particles of solid matter to rise to the surface of the liquid where it assumes the form of a floating layer-like stratum of concentrated refuse. The floating refuse thus separated from the liquid carrier Within the pit l2 flows toward the pit I l by way of a grinding unit 51.

The grinding unit 57 comprises a bridge-like wall-58 of concrete in union with the adjacent end walls of the respective pits H and i2, as shown in Fig. 2, the wall 58 being so moulded, or otherwise formed, as to provide a valley-like flume ,60, the inlet and outlet ends of which respectively present intake and discharge lips BI and '62, the former of which is located on a level somewhat below that of the liquid content of the pit I2 and the latter of which is located on a level somewhat above that of said liquid content. Located partially within the flume Gil and conforming generally to the contour of the same, is a drum 64, which is secured to a shaft 65 and adapted to be rotated thereby in a clockwise direction, reference being had to Fig. 2, the shaft 65 being suitably journaled to the end walls of the flume 60, which constitute extensions of the side Walls of the pits I I and I2. The drum 64 is provided on its peripheral surface with a multiplicity of teeth 66, arranged in rows disposed circumferentially and longitudinally of the drum and adapted, as the drum is rotated, to sweep through the flum'e G0 and there grind or otherwise finely divide the floating refuse as it enters the fiume from the pit I? under the feeding action exerted thereon by the drum and its associatedteeth.

As the refuse passes through the flume til, it is piled up at the lipEZ, from which it drops by gravity into the pit II to be removed by attendants along with such solid material as is deposited directly therein by .the conveyor iii in the manner already described. Here it is to be noted that any refuse carried upwardly by the drum 64 from the vicinity of the lip 62 is effectively removed from the drum by a wiper 26' and permitted to fall into the pit Ii, the wiper 26 and its associated supporting plate 21' being, respectively, duplicates of the wiper 26 and the supporting plate 21 previously described. In order that the drum 64 may be conveniently rotated, the shaft '65 is provided at one of its ends with a pulley 61, connected, b a. belt 68, to a somewhat smaller pulley 18, secured to the shaft 48. It is to be noted that the shaft 65 is provided with a sleeve H which is connected to the sheave 22 by a belt 72, and that a driving connection between the shaft 65 and the drum-like pulley l8 may thus be easily afforded for effecting travel of the endless screen 24 in that direction which is essential'to the proper operation of the conveyor [5. g V

In order that the reception pit l0 and the agitating pit l2 may be cleared of any sediment or relatively heavy material that may collect on the bottoms thereof and in order'that the material which is deposited in the collection pit ll cavations where necessary in the event the machine is located for the most part below the ground level.

In view of the foregoing it is believed that the operation of the machine will be fully understood by those skilled in the art, but it may be well to further elaborate on the operation by pointing out that the rate of flow of sewage into the pit l0 and the rate of flow of liquid from the pit l2 as well as the rate of flow of liquid from the pit l0 into the pit 12 may be so regulated by well known means such as suitable valve control units, not shown, as to maintain the liquid at such predetermined. levels, in the pits just mentioned, as are necessary to the proper operation of the machine. It will be understood, of course, that the rate of flow of liquid through the system should be in proper relation to the speeds at which the conveyor [5, the agitating unit 35 and grinding unit 51 are operated, the ratio of operating speeds of the units just mentioned being fixed according to the driving ratio employed between such units and the speed of operation of the agitating unit being in accordance with the speed of operation of its prime mover, such as an electric motor (not shown), the operating speed of which may be set at a value best suited to eflicient operation of the machine embodying the present invention.

Although only one form of the invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that various changes may be made with respect to the machine herein illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sewage disposal machine, a reception pit having an inlet for the reception of fluid sewage carrying solid refuse and suspended refuse, a collection pit, conveyor means for screening said solid refuse and transferring it from said reception pit to said collection pit, conduit means beneath said conveyor for transferring liquid and suspended refuse from said reception pit into an agitating pit, an agitating unit located within said agitating pit for effecting flotation of said suspended refuse to the surface of the liquid content of said agitating pit, a rotating grinding unit having teeth thereon cooperating with a flume for removing the floated refuse from said surface, thereafter finely dividing it and finally depositing it into said collection pit, a liquid outlet for said agitating pit and operating means for each of said conveyor means, grinding means and agitating 'unit.

2. In a sewage disposal machine, a reception pit having an inlet for the reception of fluid sewage carrying solid refuse and suspended refuse, a collection pit, conveyor means for screening said solid refuse and transferring it from said reception pit to said collection pit, conduit means beneath said conveyor for transferring liquid and suspended refuse from said reception pit into an agitating pit, an agitating unit located within said agitating pit for effecting flotation of said suspended refuse to the surface of the liquid content of said agitating pit, and

comprising a series of vertically disposed baffies spaced from each other each including a series of horizontally disposed bafiie slots arranged one above the other in spaced relation, and means for supporting said baffles for movement to and fro lengthwise of said agitating pit while maintaining them transversely disposed with relation to said agitating pit, and a rotating grinding unit having teeth thereon cooperating with a flume for removing the floated refuse from said surface, thereafter finely dividing it and finally depositing it into said collection pit, a liquid outlet for said agitating pit and operating means for each of said conveyor means, grinding means and agitating unit.

3. In a sewage disposal machine, a reception pit having an inlet for the reception of fluid sewage carrying solid refuse and suspended refuse, a collection pit, conveyor means for screening said solid refuse and transferring it from said reception pit to said collection pit, conduit means beneath said conveyor for transferring liquid and suspended refuse from said reception pit into an agitating pit, an agitating unit located within said agitating pit for effecting flotation of said suspended refuse to the surface of the liquid content of said agitating pit, and comprising a plurality of baffle supporting ties mounted for reciprocation longitudinally of said agitating pit, standards carried by said ties, a series of vertically disposed baffles carried by said standards and arranged transversely of the path of movement of said ties, said baffles being spaced from each other and each including a series of horizontally disposed baflie slots arranged one above the other in spaced relation to each other, and a rotating grinding unit having teeth thereon cooperating with a flume for removing the floated refuse from said surface, thereafter finely dividing it and finally depositing it into said collection pit, a liquid outlet for said agitating pit and operating means for each of said conveyor means, grinding means and agitating unit.

EDWARD HENNO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 33,203 Martin Sept. 3, 1861 86,002 Coffman Jan. 19, 1869 1,194,000 Dobyns et a1. Aug. 8, 1916 1,242,986 Sawyer Oct. 16, 1917 1,364,676 Ball Jan. 4, 1921 1,427,877 Weeks Sept. 5, 1922 1,982,266 Nordell Nov. 27, 1934 2,305,935 Thom Dec. 22, 1942 2,309,002 Nichols Jan. 19, 1943 2,358,841 Walker Sept. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 307,561 Great Britain Mar. 14, 1929 435,862 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1935 

